Hooper apparatus

Abstract

Hooper apparatus for joining together a pair of bands including a first motor connected with an output shaft through a plural-stage reduction gear system wherein one gear stage of the system is connected with a second motor which enables a faster driving speed of the apparatus with a lower driving force. A compensating clutch is provided on the driving side of the one gear stage, preferably an overrunning clutch, with the clutch being arranged to be used when the driving speed of the second motor has decreased to an extent that it is overtaken by the driving speed conditional on the first motor which carries a tension roller engaging the bands to be joined. The first motor then operates to drive the output shaft with a lower circumferential speed and with a higher driving force.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Hooper apparatus for connecting steel bands having a band tensioning mechanism comprising tension roller means for engaging said bands, motor means including a first motor for driving said tension roller means with low speed at high torque and a second motor for driving said tension roller means with high speed at low torque, said tension roller means being prestressed toward a base support, and plural stage reduction gear means connecting said tension roller means with said motor means, said second motor being connected to any but the first stage of said plural stage reduction gear means, with said first motor being connected via a first stage to said plural stage reduction gear means and with one of said first and second motors being connected by means of a compensating clutch to said plural stage reduction gear means. 
     
     
       2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compensating clutch is a slipping clutch. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said compensating clutch is an overriding clutch. 
     
     
       4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said overriding clutch is an overrunning clutch. 
     
     
       5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second motors are adpated to be connected simultaneously. 
     
     
       6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first and second motors are pneumatic motors. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein both of said first and second motors are supplied by means of a common supply line. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said first and second motors is formed with an annular chamber for delivery of compressed air, said annular chambers being connected by means of a connecting line, said common supply line discharging into said annular chamber of said second motor. 
     
     
       9. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein an adjustable throttle valve is arranged in the supply line for at least one of said first and said second motors. 
     
     
       10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said throttle valve is arranged in the supply line for said first motor.